Assistant Cook

Job summary

20 Hours Per Week - 2 Days - Including alternate Weekends ** If you are passionate about caring for the elderly and want to build a long-term career in one of our award-winning homes, then look no further than Akari Care. Our aim is to create an environment where our residents are valued, respected, and are offered the personalised care they deserve. We now seek an Assistant Cook who is passionate about, and thrives on, making a real and positive difference to the lives of older people. An important part of the day for our residents is based around mealtimes. At Akari Care we take immense pride in ensuring that what is prepared in the kitchen is of outstanding quality, wholesome and nutritious. At the same time, we always ensure that we are mindful and conscientious about individual needs, religious and cultural backgrounds. We continually assess how this might impact meal choices, alongside making sure that all our residents feel that they have a personalised service.

Main duties of the job

We now seek an Assistant Cook who is passionate about, and thrives on, making a real and positive difference to the lives of older people. An important part of the day for our residents is based around mealtimes. At Akari Care we take immense pride in ensuring that what is prepared in the kitchen is of outstanding quality, wholesome and nutritious. At the same time, we always ensure that we are mindful and conscientious about individual needs, religious and cultural backgrounds. Playing a fundamental and integral part of our united care team, you will have the autonomy to create menus, plate up and arrange food trollies in an attractive way for our residents. You will also be afforded the scope to coach a team into creating ideas and seeing them through as part of their own personal development needs. Our ideal candidate has a caring nature, supervisory or line management experience, and the ability to lead by example, motivate a team and delegate effectively.

About us

Akari Care is dedicated to providing an environment where residents are valued, respected, and offered personalized care. The company takes pride in its award-winning homes and seeks individuals who are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of older people. Akari Care is focused on offering high-quality, tailored care experiences to its residents, ensuring that meal preparation is wholesome, nutritious, and considers individual needs, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Employees are encouraged to develop professionally and personally, contributing their own ideas and innovations to improve the services offered.

Details

• Date posted: 04 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £13.59 an hour
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: 1534154058
• Job locations: Akari Care, Gateshead, NE11 9AE, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

** 20 Hours Per Week - 2 Days - Including alternate Weekends **

If you are passionate about caring for the elderly and want to build a long-term career in one of our award-winning homes, then look no further than Akari Care. Our aim is to create an environment where our residents are valued, respected, and are offered the personalised care they deserve.

We now seek an Assistant Cook who is passionate about, and thrives on, making a real and positive difference to the lives of older people.

An important part of the day for our residents is based around mealtimes. At Akari Care we take immense pride in ensuring that what is prepared in the kitchen is of outstanding quality, wholesome and nutritious. At the same time, we always ensure that we are mindful and conscientious about individual needs, religious and cultural backgrounds. We continually assess how this might impact meal choices, alongside making sure that all our residents feel that they have a personalised service.

As the pivotal link between the kitchen and the serving areas you will have the autonomy to create menus, plate up and arrange food trollies in an attractive way for our residents to gain enthusiasm and a stimulated appetite to eat.

Playing a fundamental and integral part of our united and extended care team, you will be afforded the scope to coach a team into creating ideas and seeing them through as part of their own personal development needs.

By showing us, you can match our values with the right desire for personalised excellence, community spirit and a kind, caring and compassionate nature, we, in return, can offer you a career developing your knowledge, skills and abilities to support vulnerable adults with the care their individual needs require.

What we require from you:

• City & Guilds 706 1&2, or equivalent (achieved or working towards)
• Basic Food Hygiene Certificate
• Assistant Cook or Cookexperience with similar environment /surrounding.
• Supervisory or Line Management experience
• A caring nature to give everyone a personal approach.
• Proven ability to lead by example, motivate a team and delegate effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes at short notice.
• Warm, approachable, and engaging persona
• Respect everyone, treating others as you would expect to be treated.
• Resilient and adaptable to differing needs of colleagues and residents.

What is in it for you:

• A competitive salary
• Pension contribution of 5%
• Recognition schemes and rewarding referral schemes.
• Uniform provided and DBS check costs paid.
• 28 days annual leave (based on full-time hours, including Bank Holidays)
• Flexible working patterns
• Fully funded training and development
• Support with personal development plans.
• The opportunity to gain experience and develop both personally and professionally.
• An engaging community environment where everyone is respected and included.